An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 2 eBook

This certainly was not an unpromising view of the
agricultural part of the settlement. Much might
be expected from the exertions of three hundred and
fifty-five people, and the greatest advantage would
have been derived from their labours had they been
less prone to dissipation and useless traffic—­a
traffic which most of them entered into solely with
a view to indulging themselves in their favourite
propensity of drinking.

Independent of the wild herd of cattle to the westward,
the live stock belonging to the Crown, and to individuals,
was annually increasing to a great amount; but it
was not yet sufficiently numerous to admit of supplying
the colony with animal food. To begin too early
to apply it to that use, would only have retarded
the time when the colony would be independent of any
other country for provisions; and none but superfluous
males were ever killed.

On the 26th of this month the Hillsborough
transport arrived from England, whence she had sailed
with three hundred male convicts on board; but, from
the raging of a gaol fever, that made its appearance
soon after her departure, ninety-five had died during
the voyage, and six more were added to the number
in a few days after they were landed.

It was impossible that any ship could have been better
fitted by Government for the accommodation of prisoners
during such a voyage than was the Hillsborough;
but, unfortunately, they brought with them, perhaps
lurking in their clothing, a disease which bade defiance
to all the measures that could be taken for their
comfort and convenience.

The hospitals were immediately filled with the survivors,
from whom no labour could, for a length of time, be
expected; and they were supplied with fresh meat.

None of the military having been embarked in this
ship, the owners had put on board a certain number
of people, to act as a guard; and on the commissary’s
mustering them and the ship’s company, pursuant
to a request to that purpose from the commissioners
of the Transport Board, it appeared, that the terms
of the charter-party had been strictly complied with.

The erecting of the public gaol advancing but slowly,
the constables of the different divisions of the town
of Sydney were directed to give information to the
inhabitants of their respective divisions, that, as
this building was a work in which they were all interested,
they were to furnish from each of the four divisions,
viz from King’s, Nepean’s, Banks’s,
Maskelyne’s (such being their names), and from
that of the Brickfields, five men each day, with a
watchman to attend them. These were to be relieved
by a like number of men every day, and this assistance
was to be continued so long as the gentlemen who had
the direction of the work should have occasion for
them.

Had the convicts who arrived in the Hillsborough
been in a condition to labour, this requisition would
have been unnecessary.